Disclaimer: I will not be providing a link for the review since I didn't really like the book. i don't want to publish a negative review (I never do) in my blog or Amazon because I don't want to generate bad attention to the book. I found the pacing to slow and the plot a little bit boring. So much that It was really hard to finish the rest of the book.

In Calabria
by Peter S. Beagle
Tachyon Publications
General Fiction (Adult) , Sci Fi & Fantasy


This was up for the World Fantasy and Locus Awards for best novella.

There's something magical about Beagle's prose that I still haven't put my finger on. He can write about nothing happening and have it still be interesting (not riveting but piquing curiosity). Here's how he opens. There a little aggravations between these two that are both real digs but gentle ribbing:

THE WHOLE TROUBLE with your farm," Romano Muscari said, "is that it is too far uphill for the American suntanners, and too low for the German skiers. Location is everything."
"The trouble with my farm," Claudio Bianchi growled through his heavy, still-black mustache, "is that, no matter where it is located, the postino somehow manages to find his way out here twice a week. Rain or shine. Mail or no mail."
Romano grinned. "Three times a week, starting next month. New government." He was barely more than half Bianchi's age, but a friend of long enough standing to take no offense at anything the Calabrese said to him. Romano himself had been born in the Abruzzi, and in a bad mood Bianchi would inform him that his name suited him to perfection, since he spoke like a Roman. It was not meant as a compliment. Now he leaned on the little blue van that served him as a mail truck and continued, "No, I am serious. Whichever way you look — down toward Scilla, Tropea, up to Monte Sant' Elia, you are simply in the wrong place to attract the tourists. I grieve to mention this, but it is unlikely that you will ever be able to convert this farm into a celebrated tourist attraction. No bikinis, no ski lifts and charming snow outfits. A great pity."
"A blessing. What do I need with tourists, when I have you to harass me with useless advertisements, and Domenico down in the villaggio to sell me elderly chickens, and that thief Falcone to cheat me on the price of my produce, when I could get twice as much in Reggio —"
"If that truck of yours could get even halfway to Reggio —"
"It is a fine truck — Studebaker, American-made, a classic. All it needs is to have the transmission repaired, which I will not have Giorgio Malatesta do, because he uses cheap parts from Albania. Meanwhile, I endure what I must. Whom I must." He squinted dourly at the young postman. "Do you not have somewhere else to be? Truly? On a fine day like today?"
We know that we have two characters that care about each other yet still have opposing world views--they gather to nag and complain in a way that shows they are close.

And that's the kind of energy that powers the opening until Bianchi spots cloven foot prints in the ground and spies a unicorn.

Cherubino [Bianchi 's goat] was a little way from [the unicorn in his vineyard], seemingly frozen in the attitude of a fawning acolyte: head bowed, front legs stretched out on the ground before him, as Bianchi had never seen the old goat. The unicorn ignored him in a courteous manner, moving with notable care around the fragile arbors, never touching the vines, but nibbling what weeds it could find on the cold ground. It was a kind of golden white, though its mane and tail — long and tufted, like a lion's tail — were slightly darker, as was the horn set high on its silken brow.

At first it's a mystery why it's around. He even questions it though it does not reply. He wonders if it's a sign:
For a second time, Bianchi asked, "What do you want of me? Are you here to tell me something?" The unicorn only looked calmly back at him. Bianchi fought to clear his throat, finally managing to speak again. "Am I going to die?"
Eventually he realizes she is pregnant.

He tells someone, a postmistress he likes who happen to tell her brother who happens to tell... and so on until the whole community and reporters swarm the area. Worse comes to worse when "the monster" arrives.

Up until this point the narrative has a slow-building drive, and it continues to be interesting and certainly more dynamic, but the monster is too undeveloped to carry the weight of the narrative dynamo. Even so, the story maintains your interest and ends satisfactorily--with the unicorn accruing a mythic symbolism--but one can sense that maybe a more powerful narrative lurked beneath this one had the antagonist been built with the same care as Bianchi.

If you love Peter S. Beagle, you won't want to miss this one either. If you like the samples above, then you will enjoy this tale as well.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC!

I would give this a 3.5.

Unicorns, man. Who doesn't love unicorns? The odd Christian undertones were not unexpected, but didn't fit as well as they could have. I like my unicorns unadulteratedly fantastical.

Bianchi's southern Italian countryside was beautifully executed and believable, but Bianchi himself sometimes fell into the trap of stereotype. Crotchety old man with a secret soft side and a heart of gold. There is also the problematic young woman/old man relationship, however it doesn't feel as "creepy" as it should given her assertive and confident attitude.

The end is rushed, as though Beagle himself wasn't sure how to end it. The parallels are a little loud for me, but cute.

As always, the writing was evocative and compelling, but these characters seemed a little weaker than what I was expecting, and this could easily have been twice the length.

More than anything else—his unfailingly beautiful prose, his ability to weave threads of emotional truth into stories of the fantastic, his knack for writing stories that land with a soft touch and leave the impact of a hammer blow—Peter S. Beagle’s long literary career has been defined by unicorns.

There’s the protagonist of his most famous work, The Last Unicorn (called Lady Amalthea when in human guise), who is perhaps the most famous unicorn of all. Just last year, he published In Calabria, a slender, wistful novel about the appearance of unicorns in a small Italian town. It inverts many of The Last Unicorn‘s themes, and serves as an interesting late-career mirror to a book that is now nearly 50 years old.

This was such a sweet and whimsical story. I loved Claudio and his relationship with Las Signora. It was so heartwarming to watch them bond.

The story moved a bit too slow for my taste at times and I had a hard time following exactly what was happening (or, not happening). Even though this is a relatively short book. I took a bit longer to read it because I occasionally lost interest. But I still really liked the sweet, magical feel and enjoys most of the story.

I immediately felt a connection to grouchy old Claudio and my heart went out to him as he struggled to deal with all that life had thrown his way. I had a harder time bonding win some of the other characters though, so I wasn't quite as invested in what became of them.

Overall, I'm really glad I read this book. It's a slower book, but still so beautiful and sweet. Definitely worth a read!

It's become a cliche that literary fiction tends to centre on a middle-aged man having a mid-life crisis and getting together with a much younger woman who helps him resolve his emotional crisis. Peter S Beagle's In Calabria (review copy from Tachyon press) is exactly that. With extra unicorns.

Claudio Bianchi lives on his own on a farm in Calabria. The farm provides his refuge from his past, and in particular from the break up of his marriage following the stillbirth of his daughter. The trauma divided Bianchi and his wife, and their emotional distance grew from that point. A simple life of complete isolation reflects the emotional pause in his life. But the arrival of a pregnant unicorn on Bianchi's farm becomes the catalyst for himto come to terms with his loss and the end of his marriage. Caring for the unicorn and midwiving her through a difficult birth gives Bianchi a measure of redemption and emotional closure. All this is, of course, aided by his new love, Giovanna, the postman's sister (and a classic Manic Pixie Dream Girl).

Although competently told, there is nothing new or insightful about In Calabria. There are thousands of other stories telling this tale.

Goodreads rating: 2*

Annoyingly this expired before I was able to read it - would have liked to as have heard good things

I have submitted my review for publication in Ambassador, the magazine of the National Italian American Foundation. It will be published in the next few months. Thanks for the opportunity to review!

Claudio Bianchi is a rural Italian who's gone out of his way to assure his solitude. He hangs out with his dog and his goat, and his social contact is often limited to the mailman who drops off the junk adverts. But then, one day, a unicorn appears on his land. Bianchi, a secret poet, is perhaps the ideal type of person to appreciate the magical beast with his combination of rustic earthiness and appreciation of beauty. He wants to keep the creature's secrets and to help as he can with what she needs.

However, in our modern world, secrecy is difficult. Soon, the postman's lovely sister discovers the unicorn as well. Less felicitously, so does the local mob. It may come down to what Claudio is willing to sacrifice in order to preserve the magic...

The writing is lovely and lyrical - a quiet book, but with enough tension to keep a reader moving along. Still, I would say the same thing about this book as I did about Beagle's last book, 'Summerlong' - it's "fantasy for older people." I believe that at one point in the book, Claudio is described as being in his late 40s. That's not that old! However, he's written as if he's much older. I 'felt' like he was 65, at least. This is partially explained by his life situation, but he spends a great deal of the book moaning about how he's 'too old' for his 20-something love interest. He's not *really* too old, but his protesting had me pretty much convinced that he was - and the fact that this is the second book of Beagle's in a row to feature an 'older' man rejuvenated by the love of a beautiful 'younger' woman makes me feel a little bit uncomfortably "Woody Allen" about it all.

I'm still sticking with 4 stars due to the loveliness of the writing, and the deft touch that introduces the glimpse of the sublime into a too-modern, too-coarse world.

Many thanks to Tachyon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are unaffected by the source of the book.

Peter S. Beagle really knows how to weave magical unicorn fables. The Last Unicorn was glorious, and this was just as special. Reading this, I was immediately swept into a lush dream world, full of magic, mischief and musings. I thought this was a very special book, and one that will appeal to those who love classics and myths, and those who love fables for the modern age.

Another great, short, atmospheric novel. I read Summerlong previously and, while it's a completely different story, this has the same cadence and the same magic in reading.

I love The Last Unicorn, and I had little doubt that I would love In Calabria.

While Calabria is less polished than Beagle's other works it is a beautiful exploration of character, grief, and redemption. Calabria is very short. The themes, events, and characters could have been explored in greater depth, but the brief, concise narrative still manages to convey the emotional evolution of the main character. It's as though Beagle is able to use every word to develop and capture the world and characters, nothing wasted or superfluous. Beagle has a tendency to take his stories places I don't want them to go (the developing romance), but every time (EVERY TIME!) his storytelling choices are perfectly executed that I can't imagine a better turn of events.

A fun, fantasy novella featuring unicorns! As a bonus, by the author of the Last Unicorn, a childhood favorite of mine. This novella is decidedly not for children, however containing adult language and situations! But it does have the ever alluring unicorns.
The story gripped me, and introduced some interesting ideas. If a loner farm owner suddenly has unicorns on his farm, he will certainly not be a loner for long. How far will he go to protect them when his life, farm, animals, and few friends he has made are all in danger? How will he cope with all the unwanted attention? What can animals ( both real and mythical) teach us? Great read, especially for a lighter reading time, like summer or when you would like to escape to a mythical world, not too unlike our own.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tachyon Publications, and Peter S. Beagle for the chance to read and review this ARC;

I have been in love with The Last Unicorn since I was a young girl, from the very first time that I saw the cartoon. I chased the movie into move theatre showings, dedicated myself to finding a copy The Two Hearts and The Last Unicorn: The Forgotten Edition, owning the comics, and getting all of the above signed when I had the chance to meet Peter.

So, you can guess how hard and fast I jumped at the chance to read another Beagle unicorn story, and In Calabria did not disappointed in the slightest. From the first words, first sentences, first chapter you are pulled into a rich, old world, with deep feelings, deeper shadows, and more 'golden' magic than first meets the eye. As with many of Beagle's Tales it is one about redemption, love, and faith deeper than jadedness at its very core of themselves.

You will be swept away by a farmer who writes poetry, and magical creatures of the most innocence. Get this as soon as you possibly can.

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

in calabria (Peter S. Beagle)

Title: in calabria

Author: Peter S. Beagle

Publisher: Tachyon Publications

Publication Date: February 14, 2017 (hardcover/e-book)

ISBN: 9781616962487

Source: NetGalley

So did ye know that Peter S. Beagle has written another awesome unicorn tale? Well, now ye do. If ye don't know who Peter S. Beagle is then go and find a copy of the last unicorn and read it immediately; it's one of the best books of all time. Then watch the animated movie for good measure. So when I saw that there was another unicorn tale, I had to read it.

I found this novella to be lovely. While there are unicorns, the story is really about how Claudio Bianchi deals with and is changed by them. Claudio is a cranky middle-aged farmer who lives on a farm in the Calabria region of Italy. He is a bit of a loner that writes poetry. So when he wakes one morning to find a unicorn on his farm in the middle of nowhere, his world is irrevocably changed.

I loved Signore Bianchi. For being salty, he has a good heart. Even his farm animals have great personalities. The ending was a little unusual but the journey of watching Bianchi's relationships with the unicorn and other folk makes it worth the read.

Check out this review from a member of me crew:

mogsy @ bibliosanctum

So lastly . . .

Thank you Tachyon Publications!

Netgalley has this to say about the novella:

From the acclaimed author of The Last Unicorn comes a new, exquisitely-told unicorn fable for the modern age.

Claudio Bianchi has lived alone for many years on a hillside in Southern Italy’s scenic Calabria. Set in his ways and suspicious of outsiders, Claudio has always resisted change, preferring farming and writing poetry. But one chilly morning, as though from a dream, an impossible visitor appears at the farm. When Claudio comes to her aid, an act of kindness throws his world into chaos. Suddenly he must stave off inquisitive onlookers, invasive media, and even more sinister influences.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Peter S. Beagle - Author

To buy the novel please visit:

in calabria - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Not a lengthy read but a heavy read and one that requires you to pay attention.

A tale of love, loss and finding love where you least expect it. I suppose you'd anticipate something that held weight behind it because there was nothing light or airy about The Last Unicorn. I had forgotten how much of a storyteller Beagle is and how he becomes not only the narrator but the characters he writes. His style is unique to him and I find you either like it or you don't. There's not really an in between.

That being said, the story is difficult to follow, because of the way it is written. It isn't easily devoured or sucked down like so many new fantasy novels that have cropped up. Claudio Bianchi is a hermit who lives on the hillside, after his child died and he was never the same, his wife left him. He took up a simplistic life and grew suspicious of all who trespassed.

One day a unicorn comes to his farm, decides to take up residence and even foul there, what comes after that is a lot of unexpected things.

During which, I was lost repeatedly, because of the way it is written, it is lyrical in a way Beagle can only be, it is told in a storytellers voice, so it's hard to remain connected to the story when there is often tangents off on the side. I felt like I was on a breeze of words which was wonderful and not.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

"One should never try to remake what is gone."

"And that is why men hunt unicorns, and why they will always kill them when they capture them. Not the beauty, not the magic of the horn . . . because of what lives and waits in the eyes."

If you're a fan of Beagle, you will surely enjoy it.

An interesting take on unicorns, quite different than Beagle's most famous work. It was cool to see a modern unicorn story. There were some very lovely moments, but there were also a surprisingly high number of times that I got a bit bored, especially considering how short of a book this is.

I was excited to read this book. And then, alas, I needed to go reread The Last Unicorn to recharge my love of Beagle's books. In Calabria is alright, but it is far from my favorite of his books.

Once again Peter Beagle mines unicorns for gold! In Calabria lives Claudio Bianchi, a solitary farmer with an isolated plot of land. He cares for his land, his cows, pigs, and other livestock and meets people rarely, except for the mailman. But then a unicorn, a pregnant unicorn, infests his farm to his delight and consternation. Bianchi knows that this occurrence will bring trouble. And he is right! When word gets out, all sorts of unicorn hunters, news reporters and their ilk invade his privacy. A more welcome invader is Giovanna, the mailman's sister. All come to a head when the 'Ndranghetta (think a nastier version of the Sicilian Mafia) come calling, wanting land and unicorns. They end up with more than they bargained for when the Unicorn comes visiting them! A quickly read fantasy about love and awe.